Jones Expects Good Things at Okie Division Start On Eufaula
EUFAULA, Okla. – Starting a bit later than it sometimes does, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Okie Division kicks the year off at Lake Eufaula. A large and diverse lake, Eufaula should offer the anglers a good start to the season, which also heads to the Arkansas River, Fort Gibson and Grand Lake.
Tournament Details
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Okie Division
Eufaula, Okla.
March 19, 2022
How the Fishery Sets Up
Built on the Canadian River, just 27 miles from its confluence with the Arkansas River, Eufaula is a solid largemouth fishery with some spotted bass and a few giant smallmouths as well.
“Eufaula is the 34th largest lake in the United States,” said Chris M. Jones, of Bokoshe, Oklahoma. “It’s diverse because you can run three directions on the lake. You can run way down south, toward McAlester, you can run east, towards the dam, and you can run up north towards Interstate 40. To be honest, as much as I have fished Eufaula, very rarely do I fish north, because the other two arms are 45 minutes from my house. And, it’s just very seldom won up that way, so I spend most of my time down south or towards the dam area.”
Towards the dam, Jones said the lake has a highland vibe, with chunk rock, clean water and the potential for an offshore bite with a Carolina rig or an umbrella rig.
His other favorite arm, the southern arm, is shallower and excellent in the spring, but very dependent on the weather.
“It’s real fertile and easily messed up this time of year,” Jones said. “If we get any rain at all, it turns to chocolate soup and you can’t fish it.”
What to Expect
Jones figures that the event will be a good one, which should let a number of techniques shine.
“I cut my teeth fishing Eufaula, I’ve fished it since I was a kid,” Jones said. “There’s so many patters that work on it, depending which way you go, it’s like you’re fishing a new lake. You’ve got flat sand points, you’ve got big chunk rock, you’ve got standing timber. We used to have water willow in it, but it’s come up and flooded so many times recently that most of it is gone. Also, there’s several boat docks that come into play.”
Considering the weather of late, Jones expects a prespawn event.
“It’s obviously going to be a prespawn deal – we’re supposed to have some more snow move in this Friday,” Jones said. “I went crappie fishing on Eufaula Saturday, and there was bait in 3-foot of water and I saw 53-degree water. So, they’re wanting to move up, but we keep getting these cold fronts that are hitting them in the head.
“I see it being a typical prespawn tournament. Anything that vibrates or is drug on the bottom will work.”
Jones also said the lake is primed to show out with good conditions.
“It’s in really good shape, and I expect to see lots of good weight,” Jones said. “I’m gonna say it will take over 20 pounds to win, and 13 to 14 to get a check.”
Baits and Techniques
Prespawn conditions mean that you can bet on Oklahoma staples doing well.
“If I was gonna be fishing it, which I may, I would definitely have a BOOYAH Covert Spinnerbait tied on, a BOOYAH Mobster Swim Jig, and a BOOYAH FLEX II crankbait,” Jones said. “I would just be burning the bank looking for prespawn fish in those staging areas.”
For some late-winter fish, you might consider an umbrella rig or a Carolina rig. If things get warm, jigs and Texas-rigged soft plastics could come in clutch to catch fish on beds or staging up near docks and other cover.